Surat, India - In a significant setback for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Surat Sessions Court has rejected his plea to stay the two-year sentence handed down in a defamation case. The case was filed by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi over Gandhi's statement regarding the 'Modi surname' made during a rally in Karnataka in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. With the Sessions Court's decision, Rahul Gandhi's next course of action may be to appeal in the High Court.
The defamation case has had serious ramifications for the Congress leader. Following his conviction and sentencing on March 23, 2023, the Lok Sabha Secretariat canceled Rahul's membership of Parliament under the Representation of the People Act. Rahul was previously an MP from Wayanad, Kerala. Under the act, any MP or MLA sentenced to two or more years in any case loses their membership and becomes ineligible to contest elections for six years after completing the sentence.
The dismissal of Rahul Gandhi's petition by the Sessions Court is considered a significant blow, as a stay on the sentence and conviction would have potentially led to the restoration of his Parliament membership. This recently occurred in the case of Lakshadweep MP Mohammad Faisal, whose membership was restored after the Kerala High Court stayed his 10-year sentence for attempted murder.
Rahul Gandhi is now expected to challenge the Sessions Court's decision in the High Court in hopes of obtaining relief and possibly restoring his Parliament membership.
